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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: One Foot in the Grave on December 28, 2021, 05:25:20 PM
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We're all convinced that relegation isn't a threat. However, while Dover and Kings Lynn look a good bet to go, that third drop slot is occupied by Weymouth, who are only 10 points behind us with 2 games in hand. Of the six teams between us and them, five have 2 games hand. We've only picked up 7 points from our last 11 league games, 3 of them from one match.
I still think we're "too good to go down" but it wouldn't be the first time we've imploded after a decent start to the season.
I honestly believe we could be back in National North unless this culture of losing is stopped very quickly. There are two important areas to address :
1. We need somebody to put away the chances we create.
2. We must address the regular concession of goals from set pieces.
Come on lads - for God's sake prove me wrong.
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I know we make loads of chances but we need a number nine don't we?
PS. Not sure if this has been mentioned.
PPS. I'm absolutely positive Parky knows this and will rectify the deficiency ASAP.
PPPS. we all just need to keep the faith for the time being. As I've said on a number of occasions, I'm definitely a glass half empty kind of bloke but I truly believe we'll turn this around.
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We are slipping down the table and we need to start picking up points. Whilst we need a striker as all know, were also now not scoring from other positions. This needs to change and quickly.
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As it stands, we will go down.
The side that had rankine and Reeves was "too good to go down"
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that.
It was a much better performance today. We were the better team for much of the second half. Everyone was up for it from the off. Players who were criticised after Stockport stepped up a gear today.
We need to get through the Stockport game and then regroup.
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that..
90% of players in this sqaud are confidence based...
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that..
90% of players in this sqaud are confidence based...
I think that is true of the vast majority of players in all sports. We aren't there though. We're going through a difficult set of fixtures. If we don't get anything from the Kings Lynn game I'll change my mind.
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that..
90% of players in this sqaud are confidence based...
I think that is true of the vast majority of players in all sports. We aren't there though. We're going through a difficult set of fixtures. If we don't get anything from the Kings Lynn game I'll change my mind.
15 games is a quater of the season. In that we've played 3 sides in the league below, 3 sides in the bottom 4, and 4 in the bottom half (when we played them).
1 win.
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We're nowhere near clubs like Stockport or Wrexham. I agree, a loss to Kings Lynn would be cause for concern. Losing to Stockport and Wrexham is par for the course for us. Phil after Stockport was talking about us sticking with them and we should. We'll be fine by the end of the season I'm confident of that but we shouldn't turn on the players and management after one set of poor results.
I'll be interested to see how we do against sides around us as we've had a long run of seemingly playing sides top of the league, in great form or around the play offs. The last time we did so was against Weymouth who we ended up dismantling away from home. Maybe that's our place at the moment and if it is the case then we're doing extremely well. I'd have taken an improvement on last season's position at the start of the year and we're still on for that as we speak despite this poor run.
Poor results against Kings Lynn, Torquay and Woking at home and I will be concerned but for now we're doing well enough that this bad run isn't the difference in survival or relegation for us like it might have been in previous years.
I'd forgotten about Southend. That's a game we definitely should've won something from.
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In height we are a very small team which is one of the main reasons why we are conceding so many from set pieces. Only Toby and Digie had height today. This is also the problem attacking our own set pieces.
We are well off a National League standard CM. I did like the look of Marriott but we are still two short of the quality needed.
Moult is now looking slow.Porter was just OK today, never influences games or bosses the game in CM.
Furman is OK but again small, poor finisher and getting on.
We need two 6ft plus quailty CM's.
We need a striker ASAP. We put decent balls in but no one is bright enough in our current team to read these balls. The lack of players in the 6 yard box at times is a worry.
Us at our most dangerous under Parky was Hanks 10 to Hulme 9.
They both played close together and their movement was really good. Hanks at the moment looks completely lost.
We also miss Mooney's direct running. Colcough is always a starter but I do feel Kossy on the wing runs into dead ends. Kossy is better as a No.10.
For me we are still missing at LB, CB, CM and ST to seriously compete.
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Agree with all of the above.
We are not going to be relegated but it will be closer than we would like.
I'm pinning my hopes on us surviving and then addressing the problems by being (at least) hybrid next season.
But, as you say, we've got to start picking up the required points after the christmas holidays nightmare is over.
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Maybe we can't afford new players due to the fact the club are now having to pay for stewards SIA from an outside agency since #Grassgate
Odd statement considering we have just paid an "undisclosed fee" for a new player.
I am a little bit worried we could gradually, gently slip down the table, getting the odd brave draw here and there, and suddenly find ourselves 21st in the final week of the season. There is plenty of time yet, but we surely have to start with a striker, from somewhere, sooner or later.
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Maybe we can't afford new players due to the fact the club are now having to pay for stewards SIA from an outside agency since #Grassgate
Odd statement considering we have just paid an "undisclosed fee" for a new player.
I am a little bit worried we could gradually, gently slip down the table, getting the odd brave draw here and there, and suddenly find ourselves 21st in the final week of the season. There is plenty of time yet, but we surely have to start with a striker, from somewhere, sooner or later.
Thats how we went last down.
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Maybe we can't afford new players due to the fact the club are now having to pay for stewards SIA from an outside agency since #Grassgate
Odd statement considering we have just paid an "undisclosed fee" for a new player.
I am a little bit worried we could gradually, gently slip down the table, getting the odd brave draw here and there, and suddenly find ourselves 21st in the final week of the season. There is plenty of time yet, but we surely have to start with a striker, from somewhere, sooner or later.
Thats how we went last down.
Yes, that's what worries me. In both 2000 and 2016 we had a dreadful end to the season following a decent start.
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We won't go down unless we have a serious injury crisis like 1997. Almost certainly (unfortunately).
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that..
90% of players in this sqaud are confidence based...
I think that is true of the vast majority of players in all sports. We aren't there though. We're going through a difficult set of fixtures. If we don't get anything from the Kings Lynn game I'll change my mind.
15 games is a quater of the season. In that we've played 3 sides in the league below, 3 sides in the bottom 4, and 4 in the bottom half (when we played them).
1 win.
How can you possibly win points against a team in a higher or lower league?
Bit much counting the county cup in that 15 games too isn’t it?
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Solihull Moors too (when our injury situation was bad enough even before adding the effects of the testdemic).
A few weeks back, people were getting carried away saying we might finish top half, and now we could go down?
Trust me, we'll be here next season barring a disaster, and my original prediction of 14th to 16th likely won't be far off. Parky said we would have a bad run at some point and guess what - we have.
Incidentally, did they decide if we would get the game called off a similar situation happened again? Nuts if we have to make loan signings on the day of the game to get it played.
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that..
90% of players in this sqaud are confidence based...
I think that is true of the vast majority of players in all sports. We aren't there though. We're going through a difficult set of fixtures. If we don't get anything from the Kings Lynn game I'll change my mind.
15 games is a quater of the season. In that we've played 3 sides in the league below, 3 sides in the bottom 4, and 4 in the bottom half (when we played them).
1 win.
How can you possibly win points against a team in a higher or lower league?
Bit much counting the county cup in that 15 games too isn’t it?
We played a first X1 against a side that probably will get relegated from the Evo Stik, to try and get a confidence win and lost.
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that..
90% of players in this sqaud are confidence based...
I think that is true of the vast majority of players in all sports. We aren't there though. We're going through a difficult set of fixtures. If we don't get anything from the Kings Lynn game I'll change my mind.
15 games is a quater of the season. In that we've played 3 sides in the league below, 3 sides in the bottom 4, and 4 in the bottom half (when we played them).
1 win.
How can you possibly win points against a team in a higher or lower league?
Bit much counting the county cup in that 15 games too isn’t it?
We played a first X1 against a side that probably will get relegated from the Evo Stik, to try and get a confidence win and lost.
And it's that sort of thing that moved me to think the "unthinkable" and open this thread. 7 points from 11 matches equates to us finishing on around 40 points if we don't get our act together - and that's a dangerous prospect.
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As it stands, we will go down.
The side that had rankine and Reeves was "too good to go down"
What irked me about both of our last National League relegations was not knowing our best teams.
The first time round I distinctly remember we didn't play Reeves often enough because we didn't know how good he was.
The second time round our best system (that brought our best form) was a flat 4-5-1 with Rankine up top, and utilising O'Keeffe more often alongside Moult and Richman - but we couldn't bear to drop Reeves for the sake of the system, and were obsessed with playing Lawrie in his supposed 'best position' through the middle rather than being sacrificed to the wing/bench - which meant we ended up with a 4-4-1-1 that got absolutely steamrolled every week.
I fear we're making the same mistake now - is Hancock the new Lawrie in this sense? Until we have a change in personnel the best front four are clearly Colclough and Mooney on the wings, Kosylo in No10 and Hancock up front. That front four will get us more than enough points to stay well clear of trouble.
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I always think our last relegation from the National was not helped by some poor decisions from the Boardroom. It was fairly obvious for a few weeks that Sinnott for whatever reason had lost his mojo and should have been eased out. To delay and then replace him with the woefully under qualified Neil Tolson (who I don’t think has managed a team anywhere near this level since) cost us just as much, if not more, than anything the players did. However bad this current run is I think we have a better squad, management team & board then we did back then so i am more than confident we’ll be fine in the long run.
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The side that had Rankine and Reeves in it had too many players that had completely lost their confidence. We are nowhere near that..
90% of players in this sqaud are confidence based...
I think that is true of the vast majority of players in all sports. We aren't there though. We're going through a difficult set of fixtures. If we don't get anything from the Kings Lynn game I'll change my mind.
15 games is a quater of the season. In that we've played 3 sides in the league below, 3 sides in the bottom 4, and 4 in the bottom half (when we played them).
1 win.
How can you possibly win points against a team in a higher or lower league?
Bit much counting the county cup in that 15 games too isn’t it?
We played a first X1 against a side that probably will get relegated from the Evo Stik, to try and get a confidence win and lost.
No we didn't.
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Need to get county out the way and just take whatever we get. Barnet, Kings Lynn and Torquay after that. We need to be picking up 7 points from those 3 to get us back on track.
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If we get 7 points from those three games I'll be surprised.
Utterly delighted but surprised.
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It's a shame we got the pitch fixed.
We could have moaned about the fixture pile up along with everything else.
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It's a shame we got the pitch fixed.
We could have moaned about the fixture pile up along with everything else.
It genuinely might have saved our season so far
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If we get 7 points from those three games I'll be surprised.
Utterly delighted but surprised.
We have already seen what Torquay are about, Barnet are clearly nothing special. If we get the ball down we can beat Torquay and get a point at Barnet. We should be beating Kings Lynn. No reason why we shouldn't be getting 7 points.
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If we get 7 points from those three games I'll be surprised.
Utterly delighted but surprised.
We have already seen what Torquay are about, Barnet are clearly nothing special. If we get the ball down we can beat Torquay and get a point at Barnet. We should be beating Kings Lynn. No reason why we shouldn't be getting 7 points.
Both Barnet and Torquay have climbed the league a bit since the early stages of the season. It won't be as easy as it might have been a few weeks ago. Also, Kings Lynn seem to have been competitive but losing (like us apart from Stockport) so that will be awkward too.
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Don't underestimate Barnet. They'd won 5 out of 6 before losing 1-0 at Yeovil, and were holding Boreham Wood until having a man sent off. On our current form we'll be lucky to draw there. On the upside, both Torquay and Kings Lynn are beatable - on paper. But we play on grass
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If its Hulme as rumours circling suggested, it's very akin to bringing a fat Clee back to try and keep us up. that year
The dressing room needs a lift despite what Parky says, if Hulme is it, we'll have to go with it.
But given the money spent on strikers, this shows a real poor showing on a footballing front. 6 strikers, number 7 has to work.
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If its Hulme as rumours circling suggested, it's very akin to bringing a fat Clee back to try and keep us up. that year
The dressing room needs a lift despite what Parky says, if Hulme is it, we'll have to go with it.
But given the money spent on strikers, this shows a real poor showing on a footballing front. 6 strikers, number 7 has to work.
I wouldn’t mind Hulme back here.
On loan or whatever, as long as he brings his old feisty attitude with him, plus I’m pretty sure one Josh Hancock wouldnt be too upset,
Let’s be honest, love him or not, nothing we have had since he left has come anywhere near.
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Hulme played on Saturday. I think a smart chat from Parky and some support from the Golf Road End might reignite his passion if it has been extinguished.
Jackson was subbed at Buxton on Saturday because of an injury according to a friend of a friend.
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Jackson was subbed at Buxton on Saturday because of an injury according to a friend of a friend.
Jackson injured? Never! ::) ::)
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Jackson was subbed at Buxton on Saturday because of an injury according to a friend of a friend.
Jackson injured? Never! ::) ::)
He couldn't have been on long then. Didn't he only come on as a sub, or have I got that wrong?
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Hulme played on Saturday. I think a smart chat from Parky and some support from the Golf Road End might reignite his passion if it has been extinguished
I think his passion was ignited by money and playing full time (not that I would blame him for that) rather than playing in a higher league. I think he's done ok at fylde without pulling up any trees and probably the JH who used to be so good for us no longer exists. He's never played at this level has he?
Having said that, a loan spell till the end of the season and 15 or so goals would do his chances of a full time gig here next season no harm at all and I'd be more than happy to eat my words.
Can't see it happening and, to be honest, it smacks of hope over expectation if it does.
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If its Hulme as rumours circling suggested, it's very akin to bringing a fat Clee back to try and keep us up. that year
The dressing room needs a lift despite what Parky says, if Hulme is it, we'll have to go with it.
But given the money spent on strikers, this shows a real poor showing on a footballing front. 6 strikers, number 7 has to work.
I wouldn’t mind Hulme back here.
On loan or whatever, as long as he brings his old feisty attitude with him, plus I’m pretty sure one Josh Hancock wouldnt be too upset,
Let’s be honest, love him or not, nothing we have had since he left has come anywhere near.
We're missing that "edge" certainly, even Kosylo seems to have done an anger management course.
Despite Phil's reassurance, we're missing that oomph in the dressing room, for us to be successful we're going to need born winners, that's why Grimsby Trannmere, Lincoln signed the same lads every other year.
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Would take Hulme back all day long.
Not only a player we need but brings what we need in the dressing room.
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There's no doubt a quality striker would help our cause. And yes if it were to be Hulme we may get an upturn in impact from Hancock.
I actually think it's the midfield where we're way off. As as been mentioned we haven't replaced Smith (easier said than done), Kirby is a massive miss. Would love a horrible, mobile Steve Connors type sign.
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There's no doubt a quality striker would help our cause. And yes if it were to be Hulme we may get an upturn in impact from Hancock.
I actually think it's the midfield where we're way off. As as been mentioned we haven't replaced Smith (easier said than done), Kirby is a massive miss. Would love a horrible, mobile Steve Connors type sign.
Totally agree.
Marriott started well. Will have to see.
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We're way off in midfield as well as a striker.
Also, as Parky intimated we need a settled back four too. Possibly a new left back.
Because of the lack of protection, they're getting exposed more.
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A good shopping list would be;
1) another tall centre back (Digie is ok but I'd prefer a better footballer like Sass-Davies).
2) yes, a horrible, mobile midfielder definitely (that has been very obvious this week).
3) a centre forward who can look after themselves and at least make the opposing centre halves feel they've been in a game.
Not easily attainable, but these 3 players would completely alter our fortunes.
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Always been an admirer of Harry Cardwell since Chorley early cup run. Scored 5 for County in 12 appearance after their season curtailed.
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Cardwell would be brilliant up front. Someone like David Morgan (ex Southport but don't know where he is now) would be perfect in midfield.
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Cardwell is a great shout.
Don't know whether we could prise him away (or could afford to).
Let's hope it's someone of his calibre (and size).
PS. David Morgan is now a regular starter at Accrington
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Cardwell is a great shout.
Don't know whether we could prise him away (or could afford to).
Let's hope it's someone of his calibre (and size).
PS. David Morgan is now a regular starter at Accrington
Think we prioritised Piggott and Jackson and other (percieved) long term targets than loan players.
I do think we missed golden opportunities to raid Chester, and Chorley for talent. Unless the management got their list.
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A good shopping list would be;
1) another tall centre back (Digie is ok but I'd prefer a better footballer like Sass-Davies).
2) yes, a horrible, mobile midfielder definitely (that has been very obvious this week).
3) a centre forward who can look after themselves and at least make the opposing centre halves feel they've been in a game.
Not easily attainable, but these 3 players would completely alter our fortunes.
Think that's harsh on Digie. Looked decent and can't think of a time he gave the ball away against Wrexham. We have missed a big strong brute in defense for some time. I would say a left back is a must. Fitzpatrick isn't good enough and Hampson is only fit for half the season.
A centre forward is a must and we need to get it right, whether its Hulme or someone we have never heard of it has to be right this time.
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You are possibly right over Digie - like I said, he has done okay and I suspect the real problem at the moment is the lack of steel in midfield.
However, there must be a reason we are conceding from so many set pieces. Both Mullarky and Hannigan are quality centre backs (and not exactly small) - is it just poor coaching? I don't know.
At least I suspect the striker situation is about to be hopefully resolved.
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You are possibly right over Digie - like I said, he has done okay and I suspect the real problem at the moment is the lack of steel in midfield.
However, there must be a reason we are conceding from so many set pieces. Both Mullarky and Hannigan are quality centre backs (and not exactly small) - is it just poor coaching? I don't know.
At least I suspect the striker situation is about to be hopefully resolved.
Individually they are good players and individually don't make many mistakes. So it has to be down to coaching or the systems we use to defend.
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You are possibly right over Digie - like I said, he has done okay and I suspect the real problem at the moment is the lack of steel in midfield.
However, there must be a reason we are conceding from so many set pieces. Both Mullarky and Hannigan are quality centre backs (and not exactly small) - is it just poor coaching? I don't know.
At least I suspect the striker situation is about to be hopefully resolved.
Individually they are good players and individually don't make many mistakes. So it has to be down to coaching or the systems we use to defend.
I think another factor is the lack of shielding that the midfield is currently providing. Opponents are not being stopped before reaching the back four often enough. The less constant pressure they have to withstand the better they will perform.
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Hulme played on Saturday. I think a smart chat from Parky and some support from the Golf Road End might reignite his passion if it has been extinguished.
Jackson was subbed at Buxton on Saturday because of an injury according to a friend of a friend.
Jackson was often injured for Chester. Think he could be decent but very injury prone which is not what we need.
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Some rumours linking us with yet another Chester full back!
Hopefully, today is the day we receive much needed reinforcements.
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Some rumours linking us with yet another Chester full back!
Hopefully, today is the day we receive much needed reinforcements.
More likely we'll announce things on the 1st - itd be good if the club could confirm even just Bill or Rob on here how transfers differ (loans perm league clubs etc.)
Morgan from Chester is the rumour on their forum.
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Some rumours linking us with yet another Chester full back!
Hopefully, today is the day we receive much needed reinforcements.
More likely we'll announce things on the 1st - itd be good if the club could confirm even just Bill or Rob on here how transfers differ (loans perm league clubs etc.)
Morgan from Chester is the rumour on their forum.
We need a left back. Morgan is a right back. I know Senior can play on the left, but he's unarguably better on the right.
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Some rumours linking us with yet another Chester full back!
Hopefully, today is the day we receive much needed reinforcements.
More likely we'll announce things on the 1st - itd be good if the club could confirm even just Bill or Rob on here how transfers differ (loans perm league clubs etc.)
Morgan from Chester is the rumour on their forum.
We need a left back. Morgan is a right back. I know Senior can play on the left, but he's unarguably better on the right.
Agreed, would be annoying if we try and accommodate a right footed player at LB.
Hopefully we get some good news tomorrow.
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Morgan is left footed according to transfermarkt.